Berlex Laboratories Introduces Women's Life Stages Web Site, An Educational Resource for Women With Topics Ranging From Birth Control to Managing Menopause.

MONTVILLE, N.Y.--(BW HealthWire)--May 3, 1999--

From the first menstrual cycle to the last, a women's reproductive status can be said to define her life stage - childbearing years, transitional years and menopause. Each of these stages is associated with emotional and physical changes that can affect a women's health and well being. The vast abundance of resources available today can make it confusing for women who want to educate themselves about their reproductive health as well as make health care choices that can benefit each stage of their life.

Now, women can access a comprehensive web site - www.womenslifestages.com - for important information about their reproductive health. This new web site is an educational resource for women about each of the exciting life stages women encounter. Brought to women by Berlex Laboratories, Inc., www.womenslifestages.com includes information regarding everything from making the right birth control choices and what to expect during pregnancy, to managing menopausal symptoms brought on by natural or surgical menopause.

"Berlex Laboratories is committed to providing women and their healthcare providers with an educational resource that they can refer to regarding issues specific to women's health," says, Reinhard Franzen, General Manager, Female Healthcare, Berlex Laboratories, Inc. "A woman who is well-educated in these issues will have the support she needs to make informed decisions about her health care and be an active player in her overall health and well-being."

The site is divided into sections that include information on: childbearing years; transitional years, which incorporate the perimenopausal experience; understanding hysterectomy and menopause and the years beyond. One section of www.womenslifestages.com focuses on contraception, which provides information about various contraceptive options, the safety and efficacy of oral contraceptives (OCs), tips about pill use, health benefits of OCs and topics to discuss with your physician when considering using an OC.

Another section of www.womenslifestages.com is devoted to managing menopausal symptoms and includes estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) options. This section details the menopausal experience and includes specific information about hysterectomy and the effects of surgery on a woman's body and hormone levels. Also included in this section is information about various ERT options, safety and efficacy of ERT and the health benefits of estrogen beyond alleviating menopausal symptoms. The information in this section pertains to both the naturally menopausal woman and the woman who has entered menopause as a result of surgery.

Additionally, the web site offers information including:

-- wellness tips to help maintain better health

-- questions to discuss with the healthcare provider

-- interactive quizzes

-- glossary of terms

-- links to additional resources

This web site is also an excellent resource for healthcare providers. It includes pertinent information to assist in counseling patients about their ERT and birth control options. The following information is included for healthcare providers and pharmacists.

-- prescribing information

-- clinical abstracts specific to ERT and OCs

-- downloadable slide presentations

-- downloadable patient brochures

-- product ordering information

Berlex Laboratories, Inc. markets the once-a-week Climara (R) patch (estradiol transdermal system) - the first once-a-week therapy indicated for the prevention of osteoporosis. The company's portfolio of oral contraceptives (OC) includes: the recently launched low-dose OC, LEVLITE(TM) (levonorgestrel 0.100 mg and ethinyl estradiol 0.020 mg tablets, USP); LEVLEN(R) (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets), and TRI-LEVLEN(R) (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets - triphasic regimen). Information on all of these products as well as full prescribing information for both the consumer and the physician can be found on the www.womenslifestages.com web site.

Committed to developing novel agents that address unmet medical needs, Berlex Laboratories Inc. researches, manufactures and markets ethical pharmaceuticals in three strategic areas: Female Healthcare, Diagnostic Imaging, and Therapeutics for life-threatening and disabling diseases. Berlex Laboratories Inc. has business divisions in Montville and Wayne, N.J. and in Richmond, Calif.

For more information about www.womenslifestages.com or to speak with a Berlex representative, please contact Allison Spiegel at DeVries Public Relations at 212/891-0415.

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Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious adverse effects on the heart and blood vessels from oral contraceptive(OC) use. This risk increases with age and with heavy smoking (15 or more cigarettes per day) and is quite marked in women over 35 years of age. Women who use oral contraceptives should not smoke.

Patients should be counseled that OCs do not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases. Women who use OCs are strongly advised not to smoke.

OCs are not appropriate for all patients, and serious as well as minor adverse reactions have been reported with the use of all oral contraceptives. Physicians should consult full-prescribing information before prescribing or administering OCs.

Estrogen replacement should not be used by patients with known or suspected pregnancy, breast cancer, estrogen-dependent neoplasia, undiagnosed abnormal genital bleeding, active thrombophlebitis, or thromboembolic disorders. Estrogens have been reported to increase the risk of endometrial carcinoma in women with an intact uterus. Please see full prescribing information.